Thread: How are we not a computer?

Thank you. Now tell me how computers do work, please.

Originally Posted by hgld1234

Thank you. Now tell me how computers do work, please.

Computers handle one instruction at a time. The stronger the computer, the more instructions can be handled each second. Simulating a human brain is simply a matter of building a strong enough computer and writing the right software. Raw computer processing power is doubled every two years, according to Moore's Law and so far it has proven to be correct. It is only a matter of time, before we can simulate the human brain, and after that, it's only a matter of time before a computer can work the human brain quicker than we can.

Originally Posted by hgld1234

Still not accurate. How well can a computer multitask? In such a way that they can continually record and download a hi def movie, as well as being able to kick a ball around, and imagine themselves playing for the world cup? How well would they manage? Chances are, they crash. Can't handle the data overload. We don't crash when we do that.

And let's say our robot fell over? Let's say it didn't cause much of an impact, but now our robot-guy is on the floor, he can't do the complex motor movements to pick himself up. We, on the other hand, can, given the same circumstances.

Where the hell did robots come into play? I do believe the discussion is about artificial intelligence. Robotics in our world today are imperfect, but are under constant development and are improving all the time. Given this constant progression, how long until we have metallic humanoids walking around? Couple decades, maybe, if that? And for the "crashing" thing, as stated, humans have limits, too. Artificial intelligence is more than just a simple computer program that crashes or locks up when it runs out of processing power. We as humans subconsciously limit our sensory intake all the time to prevent such crashes. Doubtful? Are you aware of every little thing going on in your world at this very second? No. You have limits, too.

Originally Posted by really

@ Mario92 - You're still missing that as such humans cannot create consciousness - that which is the substrate of knowing that they are created in the first place! You may think that everything about the matter that can be explained in conceptual terms can be created and formed in causal systems, however this never grasps the essential context in which it has the capacity to exist - which is doing so spontaneously and cannot be affected or caused. Thus it follows that it cannot be programmed either, because it is not tangible. In trying to program consciousness, one is actually trying to play God. Well if computers could be exactly the same as conscious human beings, they wouldn't be computers.

I disagree. I say we can create consciousness. To date, there is not a single iota of evidence to suggest that consciousness is anything but a system of neurons within the brain, and it is only a matter of time before we understand this process well enough to duplicate it electronically. As for the "playing god" argument, what god? We've been playing god for years through genetic engineering, and now synthetic life. Screw god; if we can make a functional AI unit, we might as well. And if you think that consciousness comes from some place outside the mind, take a mallet to your noggin and let us know what life is like as a vegetable.

I can tell you how this is more absurd:

One is a system that scientists can easily identify with, prove, measure, emulate and simulate. This system is of the world and universe as we know it, and what is part of this includes the human body, the earth, even to beyond the galaxies, to name a few things. I will stress that, although this system has almost an infinite number of components, it is still subject to the error in human interpretation.

The other is an improvable, diffuse, non-linear, unpredictable "system" and precedes everything we can speak of. That system is consciousness. I cannot show you what it is, but without it, nothing exists whatsoever.

The main difference between a conscious system in silicon and electrons, and one in water, fat, protein, salt and sugar, is that the former system supposedly needs consciousness to be "embedded". In the latter system - in what is actually the case of living human species - there was no consciousness "embedded" to begin with, but it is intrinsic. It has always been here since we were born, as far as we can remember, and it's beyond our comprehension why; the implication is that it is beyond all cause.

We have mapped brain activity and have been able to identify regions that activate when conscious thought is stimulated. We have a few loose ideas of where consciousness may come from. Simply throwing our hands in the air and saying "well, we don't really know, so God did it and we can't ever do it" is silly. As far as we can remember, we may have had conscious thought, but what about even further back? Is it possible that consciousness developed in the womb or even during the early years of life? Is this all that different from a computer programmer developing an artificial intelligence unit? As the circuits come together, is it not feasible that a conscious entity may be born: one based on silicon and electrons? Does it so blow your noodle that we as humans may be capable of something you perceive as impossible? It wasn't that long ago that most humans had thought flying impossible. And then the Wright Brothers came along. Humans do the impossible all the time, and simply because the knowledge and technology does not exist at this moment is no reason to say that it shall never be done or absolutely cannot be done.